For the past five games, Marc Barroca was quite passive in the offensive end for Magnolia.
His only double-digit scoring game came against Phoenix in the Hotshots’ 97-91 victory and, prior to meeting TNT Saturday, was averaging a dismal 5.17 points a game.
Barroca, though, stepped it up against the KaTropa, scoring a conference-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting as he led the Hotshots to a 91-83 win.
But it wasn’t just the need to fill in for the injured Paul Lee, who suffered a left ankle sprain in the third quarter, that lit a fire under him.
What made a difference is an upcoming life-changing event in his life.
“I think that was one of my motivation because I’ve been waiting for so long for a church wedding,” said Barroca, who is set have a church wedding on February 12. in Filipino at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “So I really offered this game and the Best Player award for our wedding.”
Barroca, technically, is already married to his wife Ruselle but the two are yet to exchange vows in front of a minister.
The point guard said he and Ruselle have been together for six years already and he took the time to prepare for their church ceremony, which would be a celebration of their anniversary.
He added that it was better to have the wedding two days before Valentine’s Day because “no one might attend the ceremony.”